# NTSB ATL84FMG05: Beech A36, N2864W, Banner Elk, NC, August 14, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1984, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Banner Elk, NC
- Location: 36.1590° N, 81.8678° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Banner Elk, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1590&lon=-81.8678&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6335
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FMG05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6335/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FMG05

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, climb
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE TOOK OFF & CLIMBED TO ABOUT 4800 FT WHERE 'A CLOUD BANK ROLLED IN ON US WITHOUT WARNING.' HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB & CLEAR THE MOUNTAINS. HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING TIP 'CLIPPED A TREE' & SUBSEQUENTLY, HE CRASH LANDED. THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 4000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2864W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E45Q
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-10A 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Calvin Roger Shank
- Registered owner: Ross Aircraft, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 1983, 113 hours before
- Departed: 5A7, BANKER ELK, NC
- Destination: JAX, JACKSONVILLE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,990 total, 1,990 in this make and model, 1,850 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: 330° at 8 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HKY

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840814040389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840814040389A), Aug 14, 1984: Beech A36, Banner Elk, NC, Destroyed. Encountered clouds in mountainous terrain. Tried to climb through clouds and struck trees on a mountain side.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.